Fireproof floor and ceiling construction.



No. 784,878. PATENTE) MAB.. 14.1905.

- A. PPEIPFBB..

FIREPROOF FLOOR` AND CEILING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29,1904.

UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

ALOISP-FEIFFER, OF C HICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIREPROOF FLOOR AND CEILING CONSTRUCTION.

`SPECIFICATION forming-partei Letters Patent No. 784,878, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed August 29, 1904. Serial No. 222,659.

T0 n/ZZ whom, it Uta/y concern,.-

Be it known thatl, ALois PEEIFFER, a subject of the F-mperor of Austria-I-Iungary,.residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Floor and Ceiling Construction; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel construction in a fireproof floor and ceiling, the object being to provide a simple and eliicient construction ofthis character; and it consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a floor or ceilingconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isvan end elevation of one of the tiles employed.. Fig. 3 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Referring now to said drawings, A indicates the I-beams supported at their ends in the usualmanner, forming the iioor-joists. Resting on the upper faces of the lowerilanges of said I-beams A are tiles B, which are preferably made of concrete or cement. Each of said tiles is of a length equal to the distance between opposing faces of two adjacent I- beams and is provided with a concaved lower face and a flat or plane upper face. On its side edges said tile is provided with a tongue 'C and groove D, respectively, the said tongues and grooves being concentric with the lower concaved face of the tile and said tongues and grooves of the adjacent tiles B being adapted to interiit so as to produce substantially tight joints 'between the tiles and, furthermore, so that each tile reinforces the adjacent tiles. In each of said tiles B is embedded a sheet E of foraminated metal, preferably heavy wirecloth, such sheet being relatively so disposed as toextend from the inner wall of the groove at one side to the free end of the tongue at the other side of such tile and substantially midway between the upper and lower faces of said tongue, said sheet being likewise concentric with the lower face of said tile and tongue and groove. The said tiles are preferably of Y such thickness Y relatively to the height of the I- beam as to lill in substantially one-half the space between the Lipper and lower flanges thereof. Between the upper flanges of said I-beams and the upper faces of the Liles I introduce blocks F, of concrete, which are of greater width at their bases than at their upper ends and the outer faces of which are inclined, so that between opposing blocks F spaces G are formed, which are of less width at their lower than at their upper ends. In the said spaces I lill in, preferably, tightly-packed cinders or the like, as indicated at H, which said cinders rest v upon the upper faces of the tiles and partially upon the inclined faces ofsaid blocks F. Resting upon the upper flanges of said I-beams is the floor J, which may be of wood or other suitable material, said floor being adapted also to rest partially upon the said cinders. By reason of the fact that the said spaces in which the cinders are contained are of less width at the bottom than at the top any pressure upon said cinders due to yielding of the lloor is borne to a large extent by the said blocks F, and the tiles B are consequently greatly relieved of strain due to such pressure. The said concaved lower faces of the tiles are preferably roughened to provide a hold for the plaster K of the ceiling. The said wire-cloth embedded in the tiles has the effect -of preventing broken parts from falling, and the tongue-and-groove connection between said tiles renders it impossible for any tile which may accidentally be broken from falling.

My said construction is very simple,'cheap, and eiiicient. its curvature together with the curved tongues form substantially reinforcing-arches to stitfen lsaid tiles, thereby rendering the same very strong and enabling the same to be made considerably lighter in proportion to the strains to be borne thereby than is ordinarily the case.

I claim as my inventioikl. A iireproof floor or ceiling, comprising' in combination floor-joists provided on their lower edges with su pporting-flanges, tiles resting at their ends upon said supporting-flanges and consisting of substantially flat plates having concaved lower faces and provided on their The wire-cloth by reason of y IOO side edges with interlitting tongues and grooves said tiles having embedded therein arched foraminated plates extending substann tially concentric with the lower face thereof, blocks abutting against said joists and resting upon the ends of said tiles and having inclined outer faces thereby forming pockets above said tiles, and a filling` of cinders or the like i'n said pockets.

2. In a lireproof iloor or ceiling', the combination with the josts provided on thei r lower edges with supporting-iianges, of tiles supported at their ends on said supporting-ianges, each of said tiles comprising a substantially Hat plate having a concaved lower face and provided on its side edges with interlitting tongues and grooves exten dingconcentric with the lower face, an arched forarninated plate embedded in each of said tiles and extending 'from the inner wall of the groove at one side to the free end of the tongue at the other side thereof said plate being concentric with said lower face of said tile and said tongue and groove, wedge-shaped blocks abutting against the joists and resting upon the ends of said tiles and forming Haring pockets between said joists, a filling in said pockets, and a floor resting on said joists and said filling.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name in presence of two su bscribing witnesses.

ALOIS PFElFFER. fitness es:

RUDOLPH NVM. Lo'rz, F. Soi-ILOTFELD. 

